If you want a walking holiday with a difference, consider the number one pilgrimage in Spain: the Camino de Santiago. Many consider the ‘Way of St James’ to be the most important Christian pilgrimage in the world. But what are the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes? And what is the significance of pilgrimages?
We break down the must-know details of the Camino pilgrimage in 4 questions!
1) What are pilgrimages?
The definition of ‘pilgrimage’ is flexible, given the range of societies in which pilgrimages play a role. A pilgrimage is a journey to a significant place, which can lead to personal transformation and enlightenment, after which the individual returns to ‘daily life’. People making these journeys are called pilgrims. While traditionally a religious activity, pilgrimages can also be journeys to sites of cultural or personal significance, such as sports stadiums or even the homes of celebrities!
Pilgrims usually speak of the fulfilment, re-connection, and peace they feel after completing the journey.
The Camino de Santiago itself is an ancient pilgrimage trail originating from the Middle Ages. Made up of a vast network of roads and paths crossing Spain, France, Portugal (and further afield), pilgrims travelled on the Camino to arrive at the Cathedral de Santiago. There, they prayed to the shrine of Apostle St James the Great, who is said to be buried in the cathedral.
Pilgrims would then be awarded a badge shaped like a scallop shell to mark their achievement. This accreditation later morphed into the pilgrim passport, where travellers collect stamps from places on their way/ Eventually they would earn their Compostela certificate, which pilgrims still earn today if they have completed at least the Last 100km of one of Camino.
2) Why is the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage so significant?
The Camino was the first major singular pilgrimage route for Christians, and is one of the longest-enduring pilgrimages of any faith. In fact, historians see the first ever guidebook as the Codex Calixtinus, developed in the 12th Century as an anthology of advice for pilgrims embarking for the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela!
Though now the main pilgrimage in Spain, the Camino de Santiago wasn’t always the most significant. Before the 9th Century AD, there were a number of notable routes, most of which ran to ports in the Mediterranean where pilgrims could depart on ships for the Holy Land. However, as the Middle Ages progressed the Kings of Galicia and Asturias in northern Spain began to frequent the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, which increased the Camino’s popularity.
St James is also one of the most important saints. The New Testament of the Bible states that James was the second of the Apostles of Jesus to die, and was the first one martyred for his beliefs. As pilgrims spread this information across Europe and pious Christians learned that St James’ body was said to be buried in Galicia, the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage fast became the most important religious walk in Europe.
3) What is the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage experience like?
Your experience on the Camino will differ greatly depending on who you travel with, when you go, what route you walk and your starting points, and how you choose to organise your trip.
While many people choose to walk the Camino as a chance for solitude and self-reflection, the hospitable nature of people on the Camino means pilgrims often end up building lasting connections with total strangers! The meaningful nature of this pilgrimage also means it is a popular option for reunions of friends, multi-generational family trips, or guided groups.
The Camino is accessible all year round, due to the generally milder weather in Spain and other Camino locations than Northern Europe and North America. Spring is a good time to go, with temperatures ranging from 13°C (55°F) in March to 18°C (64°F) in May, while Autumn is also popular as temperatures change from 23°C (73°F) in September to 13°C (55°F) in November. Summer is the peak season, with many of the routes full of walkers.
You can walk 9 main Camino de Santiago routes. The most popular route is the Camino Frances (also called the French Route or French Way). It runs from St Jean Pied de Port in the Pyreenees to Santiago de Compostela.
There are numerous shorter pilgrimage routes in Galicia, such as the ‘English Way’, and other routes across Spain, such as the Camino del Norte. The Camino Portugues and the Coastal variant start in Portugal but finish in Santiago de Compostela, while the Le Puy Camino is entirely within France.
4) How do you organise a pilgrimage on the Camino today?
Many people try to organise a Camino trip themselves, booking accommodation in albergues or hotels themselves each day. However, this method can be time consuming and, given the Camino’s popularity in high seasons, travellers often cannot find accommodation. Many also underestimate their fitness or ability to carry many days’ worth of luggage while walking.
Instead, many choose to work with expert Camino planners. Although many travel agencies have been organising walking holidays for decades, the first specialist tour operator for the Camino (us!) only emerged around 20 years’ ago, with Follow the Camino founded in 2006.
With this new model of travel, pilgrims could ask the likes of Follow the Camino to book accommodation for each night of their Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Because specialist operators devoted more time to building supplier relationships on the Camino network, they offer a greater range of accommodation options, from simple hostels to deluxe paradores.
Camino tour operators could offer baggage transportation services between each accommodation day-to-day. This means pilgrims no longer have to carry all of their luggage for the trip on their backs while they are walking, and can enjoy a more relaxed experience on the Camino with less of the discomfort traditionally associated with the pilgrimage!
Follow the Camino can organise your full trip, with bed and breakfast, daily luggage transfers, walking notes, and more. This ensures you have a stress-free Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Contact our expert team if you have any questions!
